Suture Packaging

ABSTRACT

A suture package for retaining a barbed suture is provided. The suture package includes a suture retaining member including an outer wall and an inner wall. The inner wall is radially spaced from the outer wall and defines a suture retaining area therebetween. The inner wall defines a needle retaining area and includes at least one opening therein to permit reception of at least one suture therethrough. The outer wall includes a plurality of inwardly extending tabs configured to engage a cover. The suture package further includes a cover configured to be received within the outer wall of the suture retaining member and to selectively engage the inwardly extending tabs formed thereon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/567,884 filed Sep. 28, 2009, which claims benefit of and priority toU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/102,066 filed Oct. 2, 2008, theentire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to packaging for sutures. Moreparticularly, the present disclosure relates to suture packages forreceiving barbed sutures.

Background of Related Art

Sutures and packages for retaining sutures are known in the art. Suturepackages may be of the foldable type, constructed from paper andconfigured to form a pocket for receiving one or more sutures therein.Alternatively, suture packages may be of the molded variety. Suchpackages typically define a channel for the receipt of one or moresutures therein.

Packaging barbed sutures is complicated due to the configuration of thesutures. The barbs formed along the length of a barbed suture mayincrease the likelihood that the suture will become entangled withitself or other barbed sutures. When excessive force is applied to thebarbs while untangling the suture, damage may result to the suturebarbs, thereby diminishing the effectiveness of the suture.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a suture package configured toretain one or more barbed sutures such that the suture does not becomeentangled. It would be further beneficial if the suture package isconfigured to prevent the barbs from being flatten or otherwise damaged.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a suture package for retaining a barbed suture is provided.The suture package includes a suture retaining member including an outerwall and an inner wall. The inner wall is radially spaced from the outerwall and defines a suture retaining area therebetween. The inner walldefines a needle retaining area and includes at least one openingtherein to permit reception of at least one suture therethrough. Theouter wall includes a plurality of inwardly extending tabs configured toengage a cover. The suture package further includes a cover configuredto be received within the outer wall of the suture retaining member andto selectively engage the inwardly extending tabs formed thereon.

In one embodiment, the suture retaining member may be rigid. The sutureretaining member may comprise a polymer. The cover may comprise paper.The needle retaining area may include at least one needle park. Theneedle retaining area may include three needle parks. The needleretaining area may include a foam member configured to receive a needle.

In another embodiment, the cover may further include a tab configuredfor operable engagement by a clinician. The outer wall of the sutureretaining member may include a recessed portion configured to receivethe tab formed in the cover. The cover may include a cut-out configuredfor operable engagement by a clinician. The cut-out may also beconfigured for viewing at least a portion of the suture retaining area.The inner wall may be formed from a plurality of protrusions. At leastone of the protrusions may be curved inward to receive an end of asuture thereabout. At least one of the protrusions may include a slotconfigured to securely receive an end of a suture therethrough. The slotmay be configure to securely receive an end effector formed on an end ofa suture. The suture retaining member may be configured to engage asuture loading apparatus. The suture retaining member may includeopenings configured to receive mounting pins of a suture loadingapparatus. The cover may include openings to engage mounting pins of asuture loading apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosureand, together with a general description of the disclosure given above,and the detailed description of the embodiment(s) given below, serve toexplain the principles of the disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a suture retaining member according toan embodiment of a suture package of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a cover for the a suture retainingmember of FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the suture retaining member of FIG. 1A,including a barbed suture;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a suture package according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, including the suture retainingmember of FIG. 1A and the cover of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a suture retaining member of a suturepackage according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 5A-5C are perspective (FIG. 5A), top (FIG. 5B) and side (FIG. 5C)views of a suture retaining member according to another embodiment of asuture package of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description will describe various embodiments of a suturepackage. Although continued reference will be made to a barbed suture 5(FIG. 2), having an end effector 6 on a first end, a needle 7 on anopposite end, and barbs 8 formed along the length thereof, it isenvisioned that the aspects of the present disclosure may be modifiedfor use with sutures of all configurations and should not be limited tothe embodiments herein described.

With reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, suture package 100 (FIG. 3) includesa substantially rigid suture retaining member 10 (FIG. 1A) and a cover30 (FIG. 1B). Suture retaining member 10 may be composed of polymers orother suitable material. Suture retaining member 10 is configured toretain one or more barbed sutures 5 (FIG. 2). Cover 30 is configured toselectively engage suture retaining member 10, thereby creating a closedsuture retaining area 15 for maintaining suture 5 with suture retainingmember 10.

With reference to FIG. 1B, cover 30 defines a substantially planarmember 32 configured to selectively engage suture retaining member 10.As shown, cover 30 defines a substantially circular configuration,however, cover 30 may be formed to fit a suture retaining member of anyconfiguration, including oval, octagonal and rectangular configurations.Cover 30 may be formed of cardboard, heavy paper, semi-flexible plasticor any other suitable material. Cover 30 includes one or more tabs 34.As will be discussed in further detail below, tab 34 is configured forengagement by a user to facilitate separation of cover 30 from sutureretaining member 10.

With reference still to FIG. 1B, cover 30 may also include a cut-out orwindow 35 (shown in phantom). Cut-out 35 is configured for viewing ofindicia located on suture retaining member 10 and/or viewing thecontents of suture retaining member 10. Alternatively, or in addition,cut-out 35 may be configured for engagement by a user to facilitateremoval of cover 30 from suture retaining member 10. Cover 30 mayfurther include a plurality of openings 36 (shown in phantom) radiallyspaced about a perimeter of cover 30. As will be discussed in furtherdetail below, openings 36 are aligned with openings 26 formed in sutureretaining member 10 and are sized to engage mounting pins (not shown) ofa suture loading apparatus (also not shown).

Turning to FIG. 1A, suture retaining member 10 includes a substantiallyplanar base 12, an outer wall 14, and an inner wall 16. Outer wall 14extends about a perimeter of base 12 to define a first wall of a sutureretaining portion 15. Inner wall 16 is spaced radially inward of outerwall 14. Inner wall 16 forms a second wall defining suture retainingportion 15. A needle retaining area 17 is formed interior to inner wall16. In one embodiment, a needle park 17 a is integrally formed withplanar base 12. Needle park 17 a may be configured to receive one ormore suture needles of various sizes and configurations. In analternative embodiment, needle park 17 a may be secured to planar base12 using adhesive, glue, ultrasonic welding or the like. In anotherembodiment, suture needle 7 (FIG. 2) may be loosely received withinneedle retaining area 17.

With reference still to FIG. 1A, outer wall 14 includes a plurality ofinwardly extending tabs 18 formed on a top surface 14 a thereof. Tabs 18are configured to engage cover 30 when cover 30 is received within outerwall 14. A notched or recessed portion 19 is formed on top surface 14 aof outer wall 14. As will be discussed in further detail below, recessedportion 19 is configured to receive tab 34 of cover 30 when cover 30 isengaged with tabs 18 of outer wall 14.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, as discussed above, inner wall 16 isradially spaced from outer wall 14 to form suture retaining area 15. Thegreater the distance of inner wall 16 from outer wall 14, the largersuture retaining area 15. Suture retaining area 15 may be configured toreceive one or more sutures 5 (FIG. 2). Inner wall 16 is formed by aseries of spaced protrusions 24. At least one of protrusions 24 includesa slot 24 a which, in some embodiments, may be configured to receivedistal end 6 of suture 5. At least one of protrusions 24 includes aninwardly curved protrusion 25 configured to form an opening 25 a intoneedle retaining area 17. In this manner, when the body portion ofsuture 5 is retained within suture retaining area 15, the end of suture5 including needle 7 may be received through opening 25 a such thatneedle 7 may be received within needle retaining area 17. Protrusions 24are of sufficient height to support cover 30 when cover 30 isselectively engaged with tabs 18 of outer wall 14 (FIG. 3). In thismanner, when suture 5 is retained within suture retaining area 15, barbs8 are not flattened by cover 30 when cover 30 is selective engaged withsuture retaining member 10.

With reference still to FIG. 1A, suture retaining member 10 furtherincludes a plurality of openings 26 radially spaced about planar base12. Openings 26 are configured to engage mounting pins (not shown) of asuture loading apparatus (also not shown). Openings 26 may be, as shown,located within the spaces between protrusions 24, or alternatively,openings 26 may be formed in suture retaining area 15 and/or needleretaining area 17.

The loading of a suture 5 within suture package 100 will now bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 2. To facilitate loading ofsuture 5 within suture retaining member 10, suture retaining member 10may be received on a suture loading apparatus (not shown). In thismanner, suture retaining member 10 is placed on the suture loadingapparatus such that mounting pins (not shown) engage openings 26 formedin suture retaining member 10. Initially, the end of suture 5 includingend effector 6 is received within slot 24 a formed within one ofprotrusions 24 extending from planar base 12. Alternatively, the end ofsuture 5 including end effector 6 may be loosely received within sutureretaining area 15.

With reference still to FIG. 2, the body portion of suture 5 is nextreceived within suture retaining area 15. Suture 5 is then wound inaround inner wall 16 of suture retaining member 10 to receive suture 5within suture retaining area 15. Suture 5 may be rotated about innerwall 16 in a clockwise direction, or instead, as shown, in acounter-clockwise direction. Alternatively, suture retaining member 10may be rotated in a clockwise direction, either manually or through theoperation of the suture loading apparatus to wind suture 5 about innerwall 16. The direction suture 5 is wound about inner wall 16 isgenerally determined by the configuration of curved protrusion 25.Suture 5 is wound in a direction that enables suture 5 to be insertedthrough opening 25 a and wrapped about curved protrusion 25. In thismanner, suture 5 is prevented from creasing or folding at needle 7 isreceived within needle retaining area 17. Suture 5 may be wound aboutinner wall 16 of suture retaining member 10 one or more times, dependingon the length of suture 5.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the body portion of suture 5 is receivedwithin suture retaining area 15, the end portion of suture 5 containingneedle 7 is then received through opening 25 a formed by curvedprotrusion 25 such that needle 7 is received within needle retainingarea 17. Needle 7 then is then selectively engaged with needle park 17a.

Turning now to FIG. 3, once suture 5 is received within suture retainingarea 15 of suture retaining member 10, cover 30 is placed onto sutureretaining member 10. When a suture loading apparatus (not shown) isused, the alignment pins (not shown) extending through openings 26formed in suture retaining member 10 align tab 34 of cover 30 withrecessed portion 19 of suture retaining member 10. Absent the sutureloading apparatus, tab 34 of cover 30 must be manually aligned withrecessed portion 19 of suture retaining member 10. To secure cover 30within suture retaining member 10 an outer rim of cover 30 is receivedunder inwardly extending tabs 18 formed on outer wall 14 of sutureretaining member 10. In this manner, cover 30 engages a top surface ofinner wall 16 to secure suture 5 within suture retaining area 15 andneedle 7 within needle retaining area 17. Suture package 100 may then beremoved from the suture loading apparatus and hermetically sealed insterile packaging (not shown).

To remove suture 5 from suture packaging 100, suture packaging 100 isfirst removed from any packaging in which it might be encased. Aclinician next holds suture retaining member 10 in a first hand aboutouter wall 14 while gripping tab 34 formed on cover 30. The engagementof tab 34 by the clinician is facilitated through the overlap of tab 34with outer wall 14. Tab 34 of cover 30 is then pulled away from sutureretaining member 10 to disengage cover 30 from inwardly extending tabs18 formed on outer wall 14, thereby separating cover 30 from sutureretaining member 10 and exposing suture 5. In an alternate embodiment,the clinician inserts one or more fingers through cut-out 35 in cover 30to separate cover 30 from suture retaining member 10.

A clinician may then manually grasp needle 7 by hand or with forceps orother grasping instrument, to remove needle 7 from needle park 17 a.Continued pulling on needle 7 causes suture 5 to be withdrawn fromopening 25 a and released from suture retaining portion 15. If the endof suture 5 including end effector 6 is secured within slot 24 a ofprotrusion 24, then the clinician may have to separate suture 5 fromsuture retaining member 10 manually, otherwise, suture 5 should easilywithdraw from suture retaining area 15 without becoming entangled.

With reference now to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of a sutureretaining member is shown generally as suture retaining member 210.Suture retaining member 210 is substantially similar to suture retainingmember 10. Therefore, the following discussion will relate only to thedifferences therebetween. Similar reference numerals refer to similarstructure throughout the embodiments. Suture retaining member 210includes an opening 227 of sufficient size to permit viewing of indiciaprinted on an inward facing surface (not shown) of cover 30. Sutureretaining member 210 further includes a foam member 217 a configured toreceive one or more suture needles 7.

Turning to FIGS. 5A-5C, a suture retaining member according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure is shown generally as sutureretaining member 310. Suture retaining member 310 is substantiallysimilar to suture retaining member 10 and 210 described herein above.Suture retaining member 310 includes an annular inner wall 316 defininga series of slots or openings 324 a. Slots 324 a are configured toreceive a first and/or second end of a suture that has been wrappedaround inner wall 316. Placement of the first and/or second end of asuture through slots 324 a facilitate removal of the suture from sutureretaining member 310. Suture retaining member 310 is configured toselectively engage a paper or cardboard cover (not shown) to retain asuture about inner wall 316.

Although the illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure havebeen described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it isto be understood that the disclosure is not limited to those preciseembodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may beeffected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from thescope or spirit of the disclosure.

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A method of unloading a suture from a suturepackage, the suture package including a suture retaining member and acover, the suture retaining member having an outer wall defining asuture retaining area, the outer wall including a plurality of inwardlyextending tabs configured to engage cover, and the cover including a tabconfigured for operable engagement by a clinician, the method comprisingthe steps of: holding the suture retaining member; engaging the tab ofthe cover; separating the cover from the suture retaining member toexpose the suture retaining area; and removing a suture from the sutureretaining area.
 20. The method of unloading a suture from a suturepackage according to claim 19, wherein the step of engaging the tab ofthe cover includes gripping the tab of the cover.
 21. The method ofunloading a suture from a suture package according to claim 19, whereinthe suture retaining member is rigid.
 22. The method of unloading asuture from a suture package according to claim 19, wherein the outerwall of the suture retaining member includes a recessed portionconfigured to receive the tab of the cover.
 23. The method of unloadinga suture from a suture package according to claim 19, wherein the sutureretaining member includes an inner wall radially spaced from the outerwall to further define the suture retaining area.
 24. The method ofunloading a suture from a suture package according to claim 23, whereinthe inner wall defines a needle retaining portion.
 25. The method ofunloading a suture from a suture package according to claim 23, whereinthe inner wall includes a plurality of protrusions.
 26. The method ofunloading a suture from a suture package according to claim 25, whereinat least one protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is curved inwardto receive an end portion of a suture thereabout.
 27. The method ofunloading a suture from a suture package according to claim 19, whereinthe suture retaining member comprises a polymer.
 28. The method ofunloading a suture from a suture package according to claim 19, whereinthe cover comprises paper.
 29. The method of unloading a suture from asuture package according to claim 19, wherein the step of separating thecover from the suture retaining member includes disengaging the coverfrom the inwardly extending tabs formed on the outer wall.
 30. Themethod of unloading a suture from a suture package according to claim19, wherein the suture retaining member is configured to engage a sutureloading apparatus.
 31. A method of unloading a suture from a suturepackage comprising the steps of: holding a suture retaining member ofthe suture package, the suture retaining member having an outer walldefining a suture retaining area, the outer wall including a pluralityof inwardly extending tabs configured to engage a cover of the suturepackage; engaging a tab of the cover; separating the cover from theinwardly extending tabs of the outer wall to expose the suture retainingarea; and removing a suture from the suture retaining area.
 32. Themethod of unloading a suture from a suture package according to claim31, wherein the step of engaging the tab of the cover includes grippingthe tab of the cover.
 33. The method of unloading a suture from a suturepackage according to claim 31, wherein the suture retaining member isrigid.
 34. The method of unloading a suture from a suture packageaccording to claim 31, wherein the outer wall of the suture retainingmember further comprises a recessed portion configured to receive thetab of the cover.
 35. The method of unloading a suture from a suturepackage according to claim 31, wherein the suture retaining memberincludes an inner wall radially spaced from the outer wall to furtherdefine the suture retaining area.
 36. A suture package comprising: asuture retaining member including an outer wall and an inner wall, theinner wall being radially spaced from the outer wall and defining asuture retaining area therebetween, wherein the inner wall defines aneedle retaining area and includes at least one opening therein topermit reception of at least one suture therethrough, wherein the outerwall includes a plurality of inwardly extending tabs configured toengage a cover; and a cover composed of cardboard configured to bereceived within the suture retaining area of the suture retaining memberand to selectively engage the inwardly extending tabs formed on theouter wall.
 37. The suture package of claim 36, wherein the coverincludes a tab to facilitate removal of the cover from within the sutureretaining area.